A
sumptuous netsuke carved from dense ivory, highly hued in a golden cream tone.
The Japanese god Hotei is the progenitor of well being and good fortune. Hotei’s
belly is full and casually expansive in compliment to his smile and expressive
laughing eyes. He reclines on a sack full of bountiful treasure. Draped on his
left shoulder is an adorable karako, with tonsured head, a sweet smile and finely
rendered half-moon eyebrows.
This
seemingly obvious composition is far subtler than it first appears. Originated
from a sumi ink painting, the netsuke illustrates the moment when Hotei and boy
were amused at the aggression of two fighting crickets. The superb artistry of
this netsuke is rooted in its Zen approach. Within the sculptural simplicity,
we find an equanimity of line, each stroke intentional with purpose. The netsuke
displays a remarkably unctuous surface, and is modeled in soft planes of round
edges. The smile of the Happy Buddha is mixed with a hint of bewilderment at these
anguished creatures. The wit and wisdom of this netsuke succeeds in conveying
the sublime within two tiny figures, and bears witness to the extraordinary revealed
in the art of Japanese netsuke.
